The sheer impact compressed its bloated form as if it had been flattened by a meteorite.
The beast didn't even have a chance to scream. It was over in one hit. But the aftermath was just as devastating.
The brutal force of the attack sent ripples through the sand, triggering a massive shockwave. The wind pressure alone hurled contestants off their feet, sending them tumbling across the dunes like ragdolls.
A wave of sand exploded outward, engulfing the battlefield in a blinding storm.
The people closest to the impact could barely react—they were flung backward, rolling across the sand before scrambling to their feet in a desperate bid to escape. Because they all realized something horrifying at once.
That thing was about to explode.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the desert. A thick, putrid stench filled the air as the antlion's corpse burst apart, sending its insides flying in all directions. Blood, flesh, and chitinous fragments rained down like a grotesque storm. Those unlucky enough to be nearby "won the jackpot," now covered in chunks of the creature's remains.
Meanwhile, Larry had already teleported back onto the wind-speed dog's back, completely unharmed. Menchi, still stunned, turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief. "You… you…"
Menchi stared at Larry in complete disbelief, struggling to find the right words. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out—her brain simply couldn't process what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Larry was busy calculating the experience he had gained from taking down the giant antlion. It was nearly in the A-rank range—not bad at all. Still, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. If the creature had been edible, it would have been even more valuable.
In a quiet office, Linne's eyes suddenly snapped open. A flash of surprise crossed her aged, cloudy gaze as she turned her head in the direction of the desert. 'That aura…!'
It had been a long time since she felt something this powerful. No, this wasn't just strong—this was overwhelming. It was beyond her past self, and almost on par with Netero in his prime.
She had been monitoring the creatures in Gourmet Paradise regularly, and there was no record of anyone possessing this level of strength. That could only mean one thing. 'One of the contestants…?'
A certain figure popped into her mind. It seemed almost impossible, but… "Has he already reached that level?"
On the other side of the desert, Gel watched Larry from afar, her sharp eyes filled with awe and disbelief. She hadn't expected him to be this strong.
There was a huge difference between merely defeating a giant antlion and utterly crushing one. The other contestants had similar expressions—some stared in shock, others in outright fear. They had witnessed something far beyond what they had imagined possible.
Larry, completely unaware of how much terror he had just instilled in everyone, remained relaxed. He had just thrown a casual attack, yet it had burned his image deep into their minds, a memory they wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon.
As the wind-speed dog continued racing across the desert, Larry and Menchi soon found their first target—Rose Rock Salt.
A rare and highly sought-after seasoning, it was known as the Queen of Salt, its fame rivaling that of the Volcanic Rock that Larry had obtained before. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a bright red rock, but its strange shape set it apart—it bloomed like a rose, its vivid color making it look like a crimson flower thriving in the barren sands.
Menchi carefully scraped a thin layer of salt from the center of the rock, then sealed it in a small glass vial. The supply was incredibly scarce—only a tiny amount could be harvested from the inner walls of each rock, and even finding these rose rocks was already difficult enough.
In contrast to the rough, intense salt from Kira Red volcanic rock, Rose Rock Salt had a much smoother and gentler taste. Curious, Larry took a small pinch and placed it on his tongue, letting the flavor dissolve. A mild, velvety saltiness spread through his mouth—distinctly softer than other salts he had tasted before.
After searching for several more rose rocks, Menchi finally gathered enough for her planned dishes. In fact, she had collected a bit extra, ensuring they had a supply for future use. Since Gourmet Paradise only opened once a year, she wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
With the first ingredient secured, they set off again, heading toward the next terrain.
The desert was relatively barren, offering little beyond the precious salt. The real treasures—the high-quality ingredients—were waiting in the areas ahead.
Soon, the scenery began to shift. The endless dunes gave way to patches of lush green forest, a stark contrast to the dry, sunbaked sands behind them. A strip of grassland lay between the two terrains, acting as a small transition zone. It wasn't large enough to be considered a separate area, but it was there nonetheless.
As they entered the grasslands, the wind-speed dog's paws made soft crunching sounds against the light vegetation. Then, without hesitation, it bolted into the dense forest ahead.
The sudden movement stirred the creatures within. Eyes—large and small—turned toward them, watching with wary curiosity.
Larry glanced around. "So, what kind of ingredients can we find in the forest?"
There were plenty of animals here. They hadn't been in the forest for long, yet they had already seen wild boars, rabbits, and elk roaming about.
Fortunately, the wind-speed dog had an Intimidation ability, keeping the creatures from scattering in a panic. Otherwise, the entire forest would have erupted into chaos the moment they arrived.
Menchi smirked. "Two main things—Rainbow Fruits and Jeweled Mammoths. The first one's for dessert," she explained. "The second one's the main course."
Larry focused his attention on the two mysterious words: Fruit and Mammoth—the former was vague, but creatures like mammoths were typically large, making them the logical starting point. Without hesitation, he decided to search for mammoths first.
With a single thought, a flash of white light appeared beside him, and an orange figure materialized. "Hooo~" Dragonite tilted its head, its round belly adding to its adorable charm as it blinked curiously at the two humans.
Menchi's green eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh! Is this a dragon? It's so cute!"
Despite its childlike expression, she could sense an unfathomable power radiating from it. There was no doubt—this was no ordinary creature. Glancing at Larry, she couldn't help but wonder just how many of these powerful nen beasts he had. Each one seemed more formidable than the last.
Larry spoke to Dragonite. "Go patrol the air and let us know if you find anything that looks like a mammoth."